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Thursday, 2 June 2016

316) “Swami Chidananda” (24.09.1916 – 28.08.2008): A commemorative stamp brought out by the Department of Posts, India on 21.05.2016 to celebrate the Centenary of his birth:

316)
“Swami Chidananda” (24.09.1916 – 28.08.2008): A commemorative stamp brought out
by the Department of Posts, India on 21.05.2016 to celebrate the Centenary of
his birth:

Sridhar
Rao (also known as “Swami Chidananda”):

Sridhar Rao, (as Swami
Chidananda was known before taking “Sannyasa”
i.e. embracing a life of renunciation) was born on 24.09.1916 at Mangalore
in a “Zamindar” (rich landlord)
family which owned several villages, extensive lands and palatial buildings in
South India.

He was influenced by Sri
Anantayya, a friend of his grandfather who would relate to him stories from the
Indian Epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata. Since his childhood he was an
embodiment of all embracing love, compassion, charity and service to the poor
and the sick. He was fond of doing “Tapasya”
or “Tapas” (deep meditation) for
having a vision of the Lord.

His uncle shielded him
from the bad influences of a materialistic world and sowed in him the seeds of
a “Nivritti” life (life of
Renunciation).

His
Education & learning of spiritual philosophy:

He had his elementary
education in Mangalore.

In 1932, he joined
the Muthiah Chetty School in Madras (present day Chennai) and
distinguished himself as a brilliant student.

In 1936, he joined Loyola
College where he acquired a degree of Bachelor of Arts. It was here that he
imbibed the ideals and teachings of Jesus, the apostles and other Christian saints
and found in his heart a synthesis of all that is best in Hindu Culture and
Philosophy. To him, the study of the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagwad Gita
and the Bible, represented the Word of
the One and Only God.

He imbibed in himself the high
code of conduct and charity which his family had always believed in. None who sought his help were turned away. He
gave freely to the needy.

The
call of Swami Vivekananda and that of Swami Sivananda to renounce found deep
consonance within his heart.

The
beginning of a life of Renunciation:

In 1936, he
disappeared from home, only to be found at a secluded “Ashram” of a holy sage near Tirupati. He returned home after much
persuasion.

Upon
returning home, he would constantly be found meditating and in seclusion,
abandoning all comforts of his upbringing, and practicing only austerities
which augmented his inner spiritual power.

In 1943, he
obtained Swami Sivananda’s permission to join his “Ashram” at Rishikesh
(presently in the State of Uttrakhand, India). On 19.05.1943, the
auspicious day of “Buddha Purnima”, he
left his home and dedicated himself whole-heartedly to the teachings and the
mission of the holy master Sri Swami Sivananda.

At
the “Ashram”:

In 1947, he founded
the Yoga Museum under the guidance of Swami Sivananda.

In 1948, when the
Yoga-Vedanta Forest University (present day Academy) was established, he was
appointed the Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Raj Yoga by Swami Sivananda. From the very beginning, he inspired the
students with his brilliant exposition of Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras.

Also, in 1948, he
was appointed General Secretary of the “Divine Life Society”, a Society which
had been founded by Sivananda.

On 10.07.1949, on “Guru Purnima” Day, he was initiated into
the “Holy Order of Sannyas” (“Sannyas” means “renunciation”) by the
Master, Swami Sivananda and came to be known as Swami Chidananda (a name that connotes “one who is in the
highest consciousness and bliss”).

Looking
after lepers and the destitute:

Service to lepers had been
his ideal since childhood. He would build huts for them in the vast lawns of
his home and looked after them. He was deeply moved to see large numbers of
lepers living miserable lives in the neighbourhood of Sivananda Ashram in
Rishikesh (present day Uttarakhand District, India).

In those days, lepers were
barred from taking treatment in hospitals, lest they should infect other
people. Such inhuman restrictions on their treatment was very painful to him
and he devoted himself whole-heartedly to look after them and personally
carried medicines and food to their huts.

Spreading
the message of “Divine Life Society” on behalf of Swami Sivananda:

In November 1959,
Swami Chidananda embarked on an extensive tour of USA as the representative of
the Master, Swami Sivananda to spread the message of “Divine Life”, returning
only in March 1962.

Elected
President after the “Mahasamadhi” of
the Master Swami Sivananda and carrying on his message:

In 1963, after the “Mahasamadhi” (Passing away into Eternal
life) of the Master, he was elected as President of the “Divine Life Society”.

At length, he toured the
length and breadth of India, Malaysia and South Africa to serve the followers
of the Society.

In 1968, he
undertook a Global Tour where he visited several countries where he was
received cordially and the devotees listed to his discourses with rapt
attention.

In January 1990, he
inspired all the Divine Life Society Branches to make the last decade of the 20th
Century a “Divine Decade” and
make a divine entry into the 21st Century by intensifying their
charitable activities to promote social welfare.

The
focus groups:

He taught the devotees about
working for the three vital sections of Indian Society –

- the rural people of India
who form the backbone of our country

- the women on India who
are the real and effective custodians of the country’s sublime culture, and

- the young people of
India, its students and youth who are the real nation of tomorrow and the
future India

He was a great patriot and
an ardent admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda.

Teaching/Belief
in “Universal Religion”:

Being a votary of “universal
religion”, he had great regard for all the religions of the world. In one of
his articles, he affirmed – “There is one Universal Spirit addressed variously
as Jehovah, Allah, Ahura Mazda, Almighty Father-in-Heaven, Brahman, the Tao or
Thing-in-Itself or GOD. This is the Universal Spirit, adored and worshipped in
temple, synagogue, church, mosque, fire-temple and all places of worship. This
is the Universal Spirit glorified and praised in all the scriptures like the
Vedas, the Talmud and the Torah, in Bible, Quran, and Zend Avesta etc.”

In his discourses, he
would invariably commence his address by paying his worshipful homage to the
One Absolute who is the primal source of all concepts of God in all religions.

His
universal vision encompassing all religions made him a pioneer in the
inter-faith dialogue. He had great reverence and devotion for the saints and
the holy sites of all religions. His tours always included meeting with the
saints and sages of different religions and visiting their sacred shrines. His
simplicity, humility, unostentatious loving manners earned for him love and
reverence from people of all faiths.

Representing
India at the Parliament of the World Religions – a century after Swami
Vivekananda:

Swami
Chidananda was chosen the President of Hindu delegation for the Parliament of
the World’s Religions which was convened in Chicago in 1993 to commemorate the
centenary of the epochal event of The Parliament of the World’s Religions
organised in 1893.

In his talk on “The
Authentic Religion We Need Today”’ he said that the authentic and genuine
religion that we need today is not merely a religion of ceremonies and
sacraments, but a practical spirituality – living in such a way to express God
within us in our daily life.

Despite being a well known
spiritual teacher, he was a paragon of unsurpassable humility and simplicity
and remained all his life as a simple monk considering himself to be a servant
of God, Guru and Humanity.

Attaining
Mahasamadhi:

Unmindful of his fragile
health, Swami Chidananda continued dedicating his service of awakening humanity
to its divine destiny and bringing joy and peace in the lives of one and all
till he attained Mahasamadhi on
28.08.2008.

A
Prolific spiritual writer:

Swami Chidananda has left
behind voluminous literature penned by him on his thoughts, beliefs and
teachings, some of whom are:

Light Fountain (his “Magnum Opus”)

An Instrument of thy
Peace.

Awake, Realise your Divinity

Bhaja Govindam,

Bliss is within,

Call to liberation

Chidananda Hun

Daily Swadhyaya

Divine Vision

Eternal messages

Essentials of Higher
Values in Life

Gita Vision

God as Mother

Guidelines to illumination

Guide to Noble Living

Lectures on Raja yoga

Liberation is Possible!!

Light on the Yoga Way of
Life

“Manache Shlok”

Message of Swami
Chidananda to Mankind

New Beginning

Path beyond Sorrow

Path to Blessedness

Philosophy, Psychology and
Practice of Yoga

Ponder These Truths

Practical Guide to yoga

Renunciation – a Life of
Surrender and trust

Seek the Beyond

Swami Sivananda – Saint,
Sage and Godman

The quintessence of the
Upanishad

The role of celibacy in
spiritual Life

The Truth That Liberates

Twenty Important spiritual
Instructions

Ultimate Journey

Verses Addressed to the
Mind

Commemorative
Postage stamp brought out by the Department of Posts, India to celebrate Swami
Chidananda’s Birth Centenary in 2016:

The above is an image of a First Day Cover (FDC) showing a picture of Swami Chidananda. The Rs.5/- Stamp on him is cancelled with a New Delhi Cancellation stamp and is dated "21.05.2016".

The
above is an image of a First Day Cover (FDC) showing a picture of Swami
Chidananda. The Rs.5/- Stamp on him is cancelled with a Pune GPO Cancellation stamp and is dated "21.05.2016".

The Rs.5/- Commemorative stamp issued on Swami Chidananda

A Full sheet of stamps containing 45 stamps on Swami Chidananda

The Information Brochure issued at the time of release of the above stamps

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .